The Art of the Pivot/
When it’s time to pivot - creativity often finds its sharpest edge…
Creative work rarely goes exactly to plan… and that’s where both the magic and the mayhem live.
Humans are humans - mistakes happen. Creations don’t always land the way we imagined, collaborators sometimes miss the mark, and clients… well, they change their minds. It isn’t always picture perfect.
When these moments arrive, they usually call for a pivot - a quick review and a change of plans. Inconvenient? Absolutely. But how we view and approach the pivot, matters.
As disruptive as it feels in the moment, coming at it with curiosity can uncover more than just a way through. Sometimes, it opens the door to something better than what we had planned in the first place.
“The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times... The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”
Why curiosity is a great strategy for creative pivots
Curiosity fuels us - it opens our creative thinking. Fear shuts it down.
When we’re fuelled, we become energised - and with that energy, our focus sharpens into a ‘burst’ of action.
Those bursts draw down on our experiences and knowledge - on what we already know will work. And once the pivot has been actioned, we’re often in a better position to see the way ahead… sometimes even with moments to refine along the way (and maybe even rescue the coffee you abandoned mid-crisis!).
When viewed through a grounded lens of curiosity, situations can feel more approachable.
It’s when we get caught up in the frustration of inconvenience that we risk staying stuck. By acknowledging those feelings (and shelving them for later), we free ourselves to focus on the present - on creating solutions. That shift brings outcomes faster, and peace sooner.
“The hallmark of Human nature is each person’s great capacity to adapt, to change, and to grow. In fact, perhaps what is built in is this capacity to learn and change according to the world you find yourself in.”
Confidence, Curiosity, and Trusting Yourself Through Creative Change
Pivoting can take confidence. Some people jump in, others hesitate - and most of us do a bit of both, depending on the challenge. New challenges and situations all bring unknowns, and with them, the fear of making the wrong call.
This is where trusting your experiences and ability comes in.
If the situation is unfamiliar, lean on your ability to strategise. And by leading with curiosity… you may even uncover unexpected gems waiting to be brought to life.
It’s true these challenges can feel exhausting. They’re very different to the slower contemplative times of creativity or going through the motions of business as usual. Pivots call for sudden focused responses - and a change of direction. But what many creatives discover when on the other side, is that what once felt worrisome, even impossible, often lands with a better outcome than the original plan. And that outcome is not only rewarding, it can be energising - sparking a fresh confidence to tackle challenges that once felt out of reach.
Each time you move through a pivot, another notch goes on your creative belt of achievement.
So when challenges arise (as they always do in creative work), remember: trusting yourself and drawing down on your experiences and knowledge will get you through. And more often than not, you’ll find new inspiration along the way.
As sure as the sun sets, it rises again. What matters is how we spend the day it brings.
Sending you energy and a spark of curiosity, for the pivots ahead.
Michelle
Finding Balance When Creative Challenges Arise:
Challenges happen. Balance is possible. If you’d like to book a time with Concrete Olive, bring your challenge, your ideas, your ‘stuck’, and together… we’ll find the next step.